It's Come Down to Begging

Things are bad when Republicans are begging Republican House members are begging John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) not to retire.

Motivated by a letter signed by more than 130 of his House GOP colleagues urging him to forgo retirement and run for re-election, Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) could be reconsidering his decision to call it quits upon the conclusion of his current term, a well-placed Republican source said late Thursday.

The letter, spearheaded by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), comes in response to Shadegg’s surprise decision, announced Monday, not to seek an eighth House term....

"Never before have more than 130 members signed a letter asking a fellow Member to stay," the source said.

Shedegg is hardly a marquee Republican name. The fact that Pence is begging a immigration moderate, whose district is in the state of the future party presidential nominee, is hysterical. Republicans aren't confident they can keep Congressional seats in John McCain's home state.